Drinking fountain



NOV. 5, 1929. w, STERNE 1,734,606-

DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed June 2. 1925 vl llll IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 5, 1929 WILLARD FELTON STEBNE, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN RA- DIATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y., A CORPUEATION OF NEW JERSEY DRINKING FOUNTAIN Application filed June 2,

My invention relates broadly and generally to new and useful improvements in drinle ing fountains, and more particularly of that character or type known in the art as sanitary drinking fountains, and in general embodying a receptacle in the form of a bowl into which the water is projected in a stream, or from a bubbling device, whereby a person may drink by placing the mouth in the path of the stream or over the bubbling device.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which the outlet or discharge from the sup ply orifice will be protected against contact by a person when drinking, so that the stream from which the drink is obtained will, under ordinary conditions of use, be clean.

Another object of the invention is to provide eflicient means for controlling the stream so that it will be of the desired force, and will, under usual variations of pressure of the supply, fall within the confines of the bowl.

The invention consists in the improved construction of parts and elements, and their aggroupinent in operative combination, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

1 have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the construction shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of a modi fied form of control valve constituting one of the features of my invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates an open topped receptacle, preferably bowl-shape with a substantially spherical inner surface 2, so that any liquid caught or received in the bowl will flow toward the center portion thereof. At

the center portion the bowl is provided with a drain outlet 3 extending through a nipple 4t, preferably integral with the wall of the bowl. This nipple is interiorly threaded to receive a threaded projection 5 on the upper 1925. Serial No. 34,350.

end of a coupling member 6, the lower end of which is threaded or otherwise connected to a waste pipe 7 the arrangement being such that liquid flowing from the bowl will pass through the coupling into the waste pipe. The coupling is provided with a side branch 8, for a purpose to be presently described.

I will now describe an improved supply means for supplying a drinking stream to the bowl in such position or location that it may be readily intercepted by the mouth of a person in order to drink from such stream. This supply means preferably comprises a nozzle member 9, formed integral with the wall of the bowl and located at a suitable point between the drain opening 3 and the rim of the bowl. This nozzle consists of a simple protuberance projecting within the bowl and having a straight bore 10, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined toward the center of the bowl and preferably at an angle approximating 10 degrees to the vertical. Sn the outer face of the bowl is provided an interiorly threaded coupling nipple 11, in which is threaded a suit-ably packed coupling 12 joining the upp end of a supply pipe 13 to said nipple, the lower end of which pipe is connected in any suitable manner, as at 14-, to a supply pipe 15 leading from any suitable supply of drinking water. The arrangement is such that water supplied from the source flows through the supply pipe 15 and pipe 13 to the bore 10 of the nozzle 9, and from the latter is projected in a stream in the form of a mound or trajectory across the central portion of the bowl. In the pipe 15 and between the source of supply and the point at which pipe 13 is connected to said pipe 15, is arranged a suitable manually operated control valve 16 which is operated by the user to open position to permit the flow to take place from the supply, in the manner just described. The valve 16 may be of any suitable form, but preferably consists of a spring- 0 closed valve having a regulating needle which can be adjusted, when the installation is made, relative to the supply pressure, so that when the valve is open the drinking mound or stream will reach its maximum height--- .1 24 through which the say about six inches from the bottom of the bowland will at the same time strike within the confines of the bowl. In the present em bodiment the needle valve is adjusted so that the proper maximum height of the stream will be reached at the minimum water pres sure which will be supplied through the pipe 15, so that it is assured that a proper mound stream will be provided at the minimum pressure afforded. The valve is provided with a suitable operating handle 17, by which the valve may be manually opened by a user. It is not deemed necessary to illustrate or describe this valve in detail, as it specifically forms no part of my present invention, and may be one of several commercial forms available on the marketfor example, a Mueller self-closing stop cock.

Suitable means constituting is provided for protecting the nozzle 9 from contact by a user. This means preferably comprises vertical, internal flanges 18, pref erably formed integral with he wall of the bowl and each having a substantially horizon tal upper edge 19 connected by curved edge or corner 20 with a forward, vertical edge 21, the height of said flanges oeing such that the edge 19 is located a distance above or beyond the outlet orifice of the nozzle Overlying the flanges, and deta-i'hably secured thereto by screws 18, is a guard member in the form of a plate having a horizontal portion 23 bridging the space between the flanges and overlyin the nozzle, said part 23 b aving an open stream from the nozzle passes. The guard plate is provided with a depending portion 25 preferably conforming to and seated on the curved portion 20 and vertical portions 21 of the flanges 18, said part 25 extending downward to point adjacent but short of the inner wall of the bowl, as at 26. It will be seen that the flanges 18 and the guard plate, as so far described, enclose the nozzle and the orifice therefrom, so th at a user when drinking cannot come in contact with the nozzle.

my invention It will also be seen that by provision of the space 26, any liquid or other matter deposited behind the guard plate and between the flanges may readily pass downward and flow out through the drain opening 3, and thus be prevented from collecting and being held about the nozzle. At its upper, rear portion the guard plate is provided with a substantially vertical guard member 27, which is preferably curved over toward the opening 24, so that the upper edge of said part 27 closely approximates a vertical line drawn through said opening 24, whereby said plate 27 prevents a user from 'zla-cing his mouth in direct contact with the guard plate adj acent the orifice 24.

I will now describe means for controlling the flow to thenozzle 9 in such manner that the height of the mound or stream will not be increased above the limit determined by the adjustment of the valve 16, in the event the pressure of the supply in the pipe 15 should be increased, as is very often the case in the supply of water from city mains. This means preferably comprises a valve-like structure subject to the pressure of the liquid in the supply pipe, and operating upon increases of pressure to by-pass a portion of the liquid out of the system-for examplainto the drain coupling 6 in the event objectionable increase of pressure should take place, and to thereby reduce the supply pressure and maintain the proper height of the mound or stream within the bowl.

In its preferred form, this controlling device comprises a casing body 28 having an internal chamber 29 connected by a suitable pipe or nipple connection 30 to the branch 8, forming part of the coupling 6' heretofore described. Thebody28isprovidedwithupper and lower internally threaded extensions 31, 39;, respectively. Threaded into the extension 32 is a suitable packing structure 33 th ough which is threaded, as at 34;, a vertical tube 35,- the lower end of which is threaded, as at 36, to the supply pipe 15 at a point between the valve 16 and the nozzle 9, The tube 35 extends for a suitable dis tance within the chamber 29 and has an open upper end, as at 37 the arrangement being :such that water from the pipe 15 may flow through the valve 16 and upward through the bore of the tube 35, under conditions to be presently described. Slidably mounted on the tube 35 for free vertical movement thereon, is a valve member, in its preferred form comprising an inverted cup-shaped element 38 having a depending skirt 39, slidably arranged on the tube 35 and preferably spaced therefrom, so as to assure free and nonbinding vertical movement. At the upper or closed end of the cup-shaped member is provided an internal valve part 40,preferably conical in shape, and which, when the valve is in its lowermost position, projects within the bore of the'tube 35 and seats against the edge of the bore thereof, thereby closing the bore of said tube. preferably provided with one or more ports 11 located at a point just below the valve part 10. The upper or closed end of the valve element is provided with a guide stem 42 seated in a socket 43 in a plug 4:4 threaded into the extension 31, and closing the upper end of the casing. This valve element operates by gravity to assume the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to close the bore of pipe 35 at the minimum supply of pressure for which valve 16 has been adjusted, in order to maintain the desired height of the mound or stream at said minimum pressure, and the weight of said valve is so calculated that should the pressure exceed such minimum when valve 16 is open,- the valve ele ment will be raised by such increased pres- The skirt is sure to permit a portion of the water supply to flow from the open end of the tube 35 down through the space between the skirt 39 and the tube 85, and out through the ports l1, whereby the excess pressure is relieved and the stream issuing from nozzle 9 will not be increased in height, even though the pressure of liquid entering pipe and passing through the valve 16 may be increased. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid released or relieved by reason of the rising of valve 38 flows out through connection and nipple 8 into the drain coupling 6.

By the arrangement described, a steady even stream or mound is assured, regardless of pressure variations in the supply pipe 15, and the height of the mound determined by regulation of the valve 16 relative to the mini mum or lowest pressure available from the supply, will be maintained continuously. It will be understood that the greater the pressure and volume of water supply, the higher the weighted or gravity valve 38 will rise, and the more water will be diverted from the supply and escape into the drain, so that the valve takes care of any pressure variations and maintains the desired height of the drinking mound or stream continuously whenever the drinking fountain is in use.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slightly modified form of the gravity operated valve, in which the valve element or part 40 is made coneshape, but is elongated, as at 40 so as to extend at all times within the bore of the tube -that is, projects within said bore not only when the valve is closed but when it is at its uppermost and intermediate positions. When closed, the outer, conical face of the valve seats upon the correspondingly coned or tapered seat 40 at the upper end of the bore of the tube, so as to prevent flow from the latter, the arrangement being such that when the valve is raised by excess pressure, the port or passage between said face 40 and its tapered seat 4E0 will vary in direct proportion to the increase of pressure.

While I have shown and described the valve 16 which is adapted to be opened manually whenever a user desires to drink, nevertheless it will be understood that a valve may be employed which may be left continuously open, and in which event the mound will be maintained at the desired height, irrespective of pressure variations, the same as though a valve of the type 16 were employed.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A drinking fountain comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice and a waste outlet, a supply conduit leading to said orifice, a drain conduit leading from said waste outlet, a casing external of said receptacle and communicating with both said conduits, a vertical open-ended tube in said casing and communicating with said supply conduit and opening into said casing, and a gr vity valve responsive to fluid pressure in said tube and including a perforated skirt slidably mounted on said tube, said valve having a closed upper end overlying the open end of: said tube and adapted to close the same when the valve gravitates to closed position 2. A drinking fountaincomprising receptacle having a discharge orifice and a waste outlet, a supply conduit leading to said orifice, a drain condui leading from waste outlet, a casing communicating both said conduits, said casing being external of said receptacle, a vertical open-ended tube in said casing and communicating with said supply conduit and opening into said casing, and a gravity valve responsive to fluid pressure in said tube and including a perforated skirt slidably mounted on said tube, said valve having a closed upper end overlying the open end of said tube and having a conical valve part adapted to seat in the open end of the tube to close the same.

3. A valve of the character described comprising a casing, a vertical inlet tube in the casing having a bore outlet at its upper end, a weighted valve comprising a cup-shaped element having a skirt slidably mounted on said tube, and its upper end closed to cooperate with said bore outlet to control flow theret-hrough, said skirt being ported adjacent its upper end, said casing having an outlet, a plug threaded into the upper end of the casing, and means for guiding the sliding movement of the valve on said tube, said means consisting of a pin carried by the valve and engaging a socket in said plug.

4;. A. valve of the character described comprising a casing, a vertical inlet tube in the casing having a bore outlet at its upper end, a weighted valve comprising a cup-shaped element having a skirt siidably mounted on said tube, and its upper end closed to cooperate with said bore outlet to control flow therethrough, said skirt being ported adjacent its upper end, said casing having an outlet, and means for guiding the sliding movement of the valve on said tube, said means consisting of a pin carried by the valve and engaging a socket in said casing.

5. A drinking fountain comprising a bowl, a discharge nozzle opening into said bowl, guard flanges on the wall of said bowl and located on opposite sides of said nozzle, and a guard plate bridging the space between said flanges and disposed beyond the outlet of said nozzle and having an opening through which said nozzle discharges.

6. A drinking fountain comprising a bowl, a discharge nozzle opening into said bowl, guard flanges on the wall of said bowl and located on opposite sides of said nozzle, and a guard plate brid ing the space between. and supported by said flanges and disposed beyond the outlet of said nozzle, said plate havan opening through which said nozzle discharges.

7. A drinking fountain comprising a bowl, a discharge nozzle opening into said bowl, guard flanges on the wall of said bowl and located on opposite sides of said nozzle, a guard plate supported by said flanges and disposed beyond the outlet of said nozzle, said guard plate having an opening through which said nozzle discharges, and an escape giassage through which liquid may escape from beneath the guard plate.

8. A drinking fountain comprising a bowl, a discharge nozzle projecting intothe bowl, guard flanges projecting from the wall of the bowl and located on opposite sides of said nozzle and being o1 greater height than the outlet end 01": the nozzle, said flanges hav ing a substantially horizontal edge and an upright edge joining said horizontal edge and the wall of the bowl, and an angular guard plate lying on said flange edges and having an opening in the horizontal portion through which said nozzle discharges.

9. A drinking fountain comprising a bowl, a discharge nozzle projecting into the bowl, guard flanges projecting from. the wall of the bowl and located on opposite sides of said nozzle and being of greater height than the outlet end of the nozzle, said flanges having a substantially horizontal edge and an upright edge joining said horizontal edge and the wall of the bowl, and an angular guard plate lying on said flange edges and having an opening in the horizontal portion through which said nozzle discharges, the upright portion of said guard plate terminating short of the wall of the bowl so as to permit water to flow from behind the plate to thedrain of the bowl.

10. A drinking fountain comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice and a drain outlet, a supply conduit leading to said orifice, a drain conduit leading from said waste outlet, a substantially tubular openended casing external to said receptacle, a tube leading from said supply conduit and extending into and sealed in the lower end of said casing, a second tube leading from said casing to said drain conduit, a cap sealing the upper end of said casing, and a gravity valve positioned in said casing and normally closing the end of said first-mentioned tube, said valve being responsive to pressure in said supply conduit and adapted to open at predetermined pressure to by-pass fluid from said supply conduit into said second tube.

11. A drinking ioun ain comprising a re ceptacle having a discharge orifice and a drain outlet, a supply conduit leading to said orifice, a drain conduit leading from said waste outlet, a substantially tubular open ended casing external to said receptacle, a tube leading from said supply conduit and extending into and sealed in the lower end of said casing, a second tube leading from said casing to said drain conduit, a cap sealing the upper end of said casing, a gravity valve positioned in saidcasing and normally closing the end of said first-mentioned tube, said valve being responsive to pressure in said supply conduit and adapted to open at 

